In the age of the health ministry taking out condom ringtones; protective sex being taught in schools and sexual awareness vis a vis condoms being advertised by our government on primetime television, its comes as a rude shock when the censors act coy about this word.

In the movie HELLO, which has a lovemaking scene between Gul Panag and Sharman Joshi, like any sensible girl Gul's character asks her lover if he is carrying a condom. The censor board however, felt uncomfortable with the usage of this word and hence decided to do away with it! So while the character mouths the word ''condom'', the sound has been silenced.

The lead actress Gul is furious, as expected. ''In the lovemaking scene the word 'condom' from my dialogue has been removed. We have ads running all over television urging people to use condoms; I can't fathom why the particular dialogue was deleted. The decision speaks of the Censor Board's double standards. I am planning to write a letter in protest'' she says.

Atul, the director of the film says, ''Don't condemn the condom. Instead of removing this word from the film the health ministry should be encouraging us to promote safe sex in a normal rather than a preachy way. I have, as a responsible director, abided by the censor boards decision, though I do not personally agree with it.''